Technical Abstract:
This article discusses the history of honey bee research in the Washington, D.C. area including the 100 year old bee disease diagnostic service available for beekeepers and apiary inspectors. This service provides the Bee Research Laboratory with first-hand knowledge of the problems facing the beekeeping industry and gives us access to samples from across the country that are used in research. This service is also valued and used extensively by the constituents that we serve. The paper provides data and a discussion for the previous 16 years of work at the bee disease diagnostic lab. Also included is a brief dialogue about the common bee pathogens, parasites and pests encountered. Instructions about submitting samples for diagnosis are provided.